PLASTIC PITCH No. 11: Alphonso Davies’s Edmonton roots, NASL’s future, MDS, what next for TFC, should Scottish get a shot at Voyageurs Cup? 9 Jan 2017 But now that we have a verdict, the issue goes forward. Thanks for your patience! What can you find inside the issue, other than our look back at the USL/NASL soap opera?
FC Edmonton sells Shome to MLS: Owner thrilled with breakthrough agreement 4 Jan 2017 In what is a unique deal, FC Edmonton has received a transfer fee from MLS for the rights to teenage standout Shamit Shome.
Imagine there’s no divisions, it’s easy if you try… 4 Jan 2017 In a system without promotion and relegation, why is it important for us to have divisional distinctions for leagues? Really, why do we care so much what a series of suit-and-tie guys deem to be Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in North America?
Poor field conditions are to be expected when MLS Cup is held in mid-December 14 Dec 2016 But, why does MLS get off scot-free in this debate? Every year, the date of MLS Cup final is pushed back. MLS headquarters are in New York; the folks there must be aware that by mid-December, a lot of their markets are basically into their winter seasons? Right?
MLS Cup breaks new ground for Canadian TV viewership 12 Dec 2016 The fact that MLS Cup was able to beat hockey on a Saturday night – well, that's an impressive feat for a sport we're used to seeing getting pre-empted by late-running curling matches.
Super Frei: The man of the hour has an air of great power 10 Dec 2016 Stefan Frei, drafted by Toronto FC in 2009, may have dreamed back then about winning an MLS Cup at BMO Field. He probably didn’t imagine at the time that he’d do it as a member of the Seattle Sounders.
Fury-Impact deal: Ottawa eligible to play in the Cup 9 Dec 2016 The Fury’s front office says that the eligibility of each Montreal player will be set out in their contracts. There is no blanket policy that covers all loanees. So, if Ottawa and Montreal were to meet in a meaningful game, the status of the Impact loanees would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
TFC must limit Lodeiro if the Reds are to take MLS Cup title 5 Dec 2016 Lodeiro and the Sounders may feel like a Cinderella story; but, really, it would be absolutely incorrect to call them that. Really, they are yet another example of the kind of team that usually wins MLS Cup. They have all the ingredients of teams that have won previous titles; they were highly rated in preseason, struggled to start the season, tinkered and tinkered, finally found a rhythm, then scrambled just to make the post-season and then stayed hot once the playoffs started.
Chaos from the corner: TFC’s set pieces allow Reds to take classic Eastern Final over Impact 30 Nov 2016 Just the thought of corner kicks will give Impact supporters nightmares throughout their offseason. All three TFC goals in regulation time of the second leg came off of corners that Montreal couldn't deal with.
Vanney, Biello keep the temperature down in lead-up to Impact-TFC second leg 28 Nov 2016 But you could have started a drinking game with the media involved in Monday’s conference call — they had to drink every time TFC coach Greg Vanney said that he respected the Impact.